Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pampanga Cost of Living Comparison Between Baguio and Pampanga

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $779 in Baguio versus $648 in Pampanga.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,147 in Baguio versus $1,107 in Pampanga.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,514 in Baguio versus $1,565 in Pampanga.

Living in Baguio is roughly 20% more expensive than in Pampanga, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Baguio 41% lower, Pampanga 51% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.63 ₱222

$3.01 ₱184

20.60%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$13.43 ₱822

$17.48 ₱1,070

-23.17%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$2.69 ₱164

$3.17 ₱194

-15.14%

Cappuccino

$2.36 ₱145

$2.72 ₱166

-13.24%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 ₱40.38

$0.43 ₱26.05

53.49%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 ₱22.96

$0.35 ₱21.70

8.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.39 ₱84.9

$1.15 ₱70.5

20.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 ₱118

$2.35 ₱144

-17.45%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.43 ₱87.8

27.27%

White Bread (500g)

$1.21 ₱73.8

$1.14 ₱69.5

6.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.07 ₱65.8

$0.84 ₱51.5

27.38%

Eggs

$2.28 ₱139

$1.44 ₱88.4

58.33%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$9.14 ₱559

$4.30 ₱263

112.56%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.87 ₱237

$2.98 ₱183

29.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.46 ₱518

$7.43 ₱455

13.86%

Apples (1kg)

$2.75 ₱168

$2.10 ₱129

30.95%

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 ₱113

$1.04 ₱63.6

76.92%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.37 ₱145

$2.23 ₱137

6.28%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.16 ₱70.9

$1.01 ₱61.6

14.85%

Potato (1kg)

$1.82 ₱111

$1.64 ₱100

10.98%

Onion (1kg)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.80 ₱110

26.11%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 ₱41.91

$0.91 ₱55.9

-25.27%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 ₱44.38

$0.66 ₱40.63

9.09%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.36 ₱206

$2.08 ₱127

61.54%

Wine (Bottle)

$9.18 ₱562

$6.02 ₱369

52.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.08 ₱66.1

$0.74 ₱45.56

45.95%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.27 ₱139

$1.40 ₱85.5

62.14%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.28 ₱17.34

$0.27 ₱16.40

3.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$10.43 ₱639

$11.60 ₱710

-10.09%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.86 ₱52.6

$0.83 ₱50.5

3.61%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.22 ₱13.38

$0.27 ₱16.49

-18.52%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.44 ₱149

$2.15 ₱132

13.49%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.12 ₱68.4

$1.16 ₱71.0

-3.45%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$32.2K ₱2.0M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

83.13%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$20.6K ₱1.3M

$17.6K ₱1.1M

16.80%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$149 ₱9,108

$130 ₱7,962

14.39%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$34.55 ₱2,115

$27.07 ₱1,657

27.63%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 ₱1,613

$26.10 ₱1,597

0.96%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.84 ₱1,337

$51.0 ₱3,122

-57.18%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$4.07 ₱249

$4.40 ₱269

-7.50%

Cinema Ticket

$5.87 ₱359

$4.49 ₱275

30.73%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$149 ₱9,109

$124 ₱7,581

20.16%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,683 ₱286.7K

$1,749 ₱107.1K

167.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$47.86 ₱2,930

$28.98 ₱1,774

65.15%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$27.14 ₱1,661

$26.22 ₱1,605

3.51%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.3 ₱4,608

$59.9 ₱3,664

25.78%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$46.11 ₱2,822

$41.28 ₱2,527

11.70%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$336 ₱20.6K

$149 ₱9,115

125.55%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$142 ₱8,677

$97.9 ₱5,992

44.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$556 ₱34.0K

$592 ₱36.3K

-6.12%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$262 ₱16.1K

$427 ₱26.1K

-38.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,408 ₱147.4K

$2,444 ₱149.6K

-1.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$919 ₱56.2K

$964 ₱59.0K

-4.68%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$188 ₱11.5K

$298 ₱18.2K

-36.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

6.17

-27.07%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Baguio: July 27, 2026

Last update for Pampanga: July 27, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $336 in Baguio and $149 in Pampanga. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Pampanga pays 59% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $13.00 in Baguio vs $17.00 in Pampanga. Groceries flip the comparison at $206 vs $154, with Pampanga cheaper for home cooking.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Baguio vs Pampanga: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Pampanga wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Baguio. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Pampanga the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 59% lower in Pampanga. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $336 in Baguio versus $149 in Pampanga. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $779 per month in Baguio versus $648 in Pampanga – a 20% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Pampanga runs roughly 11% less than in Baguio. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $800 a month, though Pampanga gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Baguio and Pampanga are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Pampanga gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Baguio. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.